Top blues performer to play in arts centre

19 November 2014

GRAINNE Duffy is bringing the blues back to Down Arts Centre. On Saturday she and guitarist Paul Sherry will play songs in an acoustic and stripped down form, perfect for the intimate surroundings of the arts centre auditorium.

Known for her raw, edgy and elegant style, the Co. Monaghan artist gained exposure at an early age to artists such as the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and the Pretenders by reportedly raiding her elder sisters’ record collection.

So far in her short career, Gráinne has already graced the stage at Glastonbury for three electric performances, toured much of Europe and even visited the North Pole with the only Irish to band to play the Dark Season Festival in Svalbard twice.

Gráinne was also invited, alongside Paul Brady, to open the newly refurbished Ulster Hall in Belfast, and more recently to open for Jools Holland on his tour.

Described as ‘a blues singer of real integrity’ by the Sunday Times, Gráinne’s music is regularly acclaimed as wonderful mix of blues, rock and soul, charged with true emotion.

Finnian Kelleher will also be opening the evening at Down Arts Centre.

Having just started playing music in his twenties for fun, it soon grew into a deeply rooted passion for Finnian.

As his talent developed over the next three years, so too did his desire to write and play music for a living. During this period he credits Paul Sherry and Gráinne Duffy for helping develop his skills.

In just a few years he went from barely knowing the difference between a major and a minor chord to securing a slot at Electric Picnic and playing for sold-out crowds.

He now has one album under his belt and another on the way, and has supported the MTV award-winning Gemma Hayes as well as several other prominent musicians such as Gavin Glass, Stewart Agnew and Gareth Dunlop.

Gráinne’s songs, along with some well-chosen classics in acoustic and stripped down arrangements, will be performed on November 22, with the evening kicking off at 8pm.

To purchase tickets (£12 / £10) contact the box office on 028 4461 0747 or visit www.downartscentre.com.

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